As with earlier time periods, it is important to consider more than the obvious variables when choosing a hat for your impression. We don’t just make hats without understanding the reasons for these details, so, if you’re in doubt, ask your group’s uniform or costuming specialist, or speak with Bill directly.

Headwear styles seemed to change about every decade, and one needs to consider the movement geographically of these styles. Where are you, when are you, and who are you are three important question to ask yourself. The easiest choice would to be very versatile and generic. We’ll attempt to guide you here a little, especially when you attempt to portray the American Civil War.

Civil War Military Suggestions

Confederate Generic--C19 in tan, brown, gray, or black. This has a distressed, or broken in look, commonly referred to as a beehive. (I coined this term a long time ago as a euphemism for the distressed look. Boy, what a mistake!) Stay away from forage caps. Try for an agricultural look.

Federal Generic—US20 LJ&I forage cap or a plain, unadorned Hardee hat (US8). Stay away from the kepi or the civilian look, as these are not issue or regulation. Officers, too, had guidelines but much more latitude in their choices. But then, by the time you’re an officer, you should have enough knowledge of your impression to know what to choose.

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